The African Womanist Vision in Vera's Works

The influence of school matrons on girls’ educational experience and social participation in Tanzania

“…Womanists bring forth the role of African mothers as leaders who are responsible for creating cultural integrity based on the principles of "reciprocity, balance, harmony, justice, truth, righteousness, order, and so forth" (Dove, 1998, p. 535). Concerning this, Mangena (2003), asserts that "one of the responses of the African woman's continued humiliation and oppression has been to distance herself from western feminism and to consciously embrace Womanism" (p. 100) Womanism focuses on freedom and healing that is wholesome to communal human life and any struggle for freedom must mean freedom for the good of the entire nation (Chigwedere, 2010). The philosophy of African Womanism emphasises "consensus, compromise and cooperation between the sexes" (Chigwedere, 2010, p. 41).…”

“…Chinua Achebe, for instance, in his novel 'Things Fall Apart' -is a good example where the literature has depicted an African woman's role as subordinate to a man's role. The African continent itself is objectified by metaphorical references by African male writers as both a mother and wife, denoting her role of reproduction (Chigwedere, 2010). Chigwedere (2010), observes this role as, not merely complementary but a responsibility and an obligation.…”

“…The African continent itself is objectified by metaphorical references by African male writers as both a mother and wife, denoting her role of reproduction (Chigwedere, 2010). Chigwedere (2010), observes this role as, not merely complementary but a responsibility and an obligation. In simple terms, a woman's role is symbolised as belonging to the servitude of her husband.…”

“…In simple terms, a woman's role is symbolised as belonging to the servitude of her husband. In that sense, an African woman as a mother is metaphorically worshipped and honoured greatly, but as a wife is objectified by the same African man (Chigwedere, 2010). Hence, African feminism builds upon the foundations of Afrocentric ideologies where motherhood is paramount in both metaphorical and literal meanings.…”